Alexandria’s extended public poll on the Duke Street Land Use Plan wraps today.
Hundreds of people have participated in the poll, according to the city. Once completed, the plan will guide city officials in the development of the Duke Street Corridor from the former Landmark Mall to Alexandria Union Station. The plan is expected to be ready for City Council consideration and adoption in late 2026/early 2027, according to the city.
Welcome to Friday, Alexandria! Here’s our recap of the most-read stories.
Our top story this week is on two Alexandria business owners charged with possession of an illegal gambling device for operating skill games. The news marks the first indictments against Alexandria business owners for the devices. Dozens of skill game machines operate at multiple convenience and grocery stores in the West End and Arlandria neighborhoods, despite police hand-delivering warning letters to more than a dozen offending businesses. Skill games were outlawed as illegal gaming by the Virginia legislature in 2020, and Commonwealth’s Attorney Bryan Porter told ALXnow that his office is assessing “all potential investigative leads.”
Get ready to create, because Made in ALX‘s third annual Fall Maker’s Market is returning to Port City Brewing Company (3950 Wheeler Avenue).
The free family-and-pet-friendly event will feature more than 20 Alexandria makers/artists, and multiple make-and-take stations. The event is from 12 to 5 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 6.
It’s four years away from opening, but a senior living community in Alexandria’s West End is opening its sales center later this month.
The City Council unanimously approved the $340 million Goodwin House Seminary Road project in June. Construction of the two-towered, 14- to 16-story apartment building with 257 units is anticipated to be completed in 2029. The property will feature “217 independent living apartments, 16 assisted living apartments, a dedicated memory care area and a Medicare/Medicaid-certified health care center offering skilled nursing, short-term rehabilitation, long-term care and a state-of-the-art rehab center,” according to Goodwin Living.
Alexandria Fire Department extinguished a car fire in the West End on Wednesday, Aug. 13.
The fire was reported at a car parked in the 200 block of S. Reynolds Street at around 5:30 a.m. The 911 caller reported that a black Honda Accord was on fire.
A 35-year-old Dumfries man faces multiple charges related to a shooting last month at Ben Brenman Park (4800 Brenman Park Drive) in Alexandria’s West End.
The July 10 shooting was the result of an argument in a TikTok livestream between Aria and the male victim, according to a recently released search warrant affidavit. Samir Ahmad Aria was charged with reckless handling of a firearm, shooting in a public place without injury, and pointing/brandishing a firearm — all Class 1 misdemeanors punishable by up to a year in jail and/or a $2,500 fine.
Two people have been charged with possession of an illegal gambling device for operating skill games, marking the first indictments against Alexandria business owners.
The Alexandria Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office just announced that a grand jury returned indictments against Alexandria business owners Oscar Salinas, 57, and Michelle Kim, 53, both charged with one count of possessing an illegal gambling device. Salinas is an Arlington resident, and his restaurant is located in the 3800 block of Mount Vernon Avenue in the Del Ray North Shopping Center. Kim is from Montgomery County, Maryland, and her business is located in the 200 block of S. Van Dorn Street.
The Washington Wizards will tip off the 2025-2026 school year at William Ramsay Elementary School next Friday (Aug. 15).
Even though school officially starts on Monday, Aug. 18, Washington Wizards rookies Tre Johnson, Will Riley, and Jamir Watkins are joining mascot G-Wiz and the Wizards Dancers in handing out free Wizards backpacks filled with school supplies, water bottles, and more. The event will be held at the school, located at 5700 Sanger Avenue, from 12:00 to 3:30 p.m.
An ABC store in Alexandria’s West End closed to retail customers last month and converted its operations to serve alcohol licensees only.
The store at 4349 Duke Street closed July 15 after nine years of operation, according to Virginia ABC. The agency moved the location’s contents to 901-929 S. Pickett Street, about 2 miles away, where it now serves licensees rather than walk-in customers.
Alexandria residents who get free meals from ALIVE!’s West End Food Hub will have to seek other accommodations.
Last week, ALIVE! announced that the food hub at 510 S. Van Dorn Street will be “closed until further notice” due to an ongoing HVAC replacement. Still, there are plenty of ways to get free food this month in Alexandria.
The Alexandria City Council, this week, approved the three-year extension of an expired plan to build hundreds of residential units in Alexandria’s Landmark area.
The three-year development special use permit for the 8-acre Landmark Overlook project expired in February. Council initially approved the plan in 2022 by West End Development Associates to build 450 residential units in seven townhomes and two multifamily apartment buildings on the eight-acre site at 5901, 5951, and 5999 Stevenson Avenue and 2 South Whiting Street.
